Relationship between Ocular Surface Alterations and Concentrations of Aerial Particulate Matter

Abstract

PurposeTo evaluate ocular surface alterations in two populations at different exposure levels to particulate matter (PM) in their living and work environments.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted, including 78 volunteers from Argentina who lived and worked under different pollution levels in an urban (U; n = 44) or industrial zone (I; n = 34). Mean exposure level to PM was evaluated. Responses to the Ocular Symptom Disease Index and McMonnies questionnaire were obtained from all subjects. Subsequently, an assessment through the Schirmer I test (ST), slit lamp microscopy, vital staining, and tear breakup time was conducted. Statistical analyses with Chi-square and Bartlett's tests, as well as Student's t-tests and principal component analysis (PCA), were performed.ResultsParticles of size < 2.5 μm (PM2.5) level was significantly higher in the I group than the U group (P = 0.04). Ocular surface parameters including bulbar redness, eyelid redness, and the degree of vital staining with fluorescein (SF) and lissamine green (SLG) exhibited difference between the groups. With regards to the tear film, statistically significant differences in the ST value and meibomian gland dysfunction between the groups were detected (P = 0.003 and P = 0.02, respectively). Conjunctival SF and SLG, and ST values were identified as factors which could distinguish groups exposed to different PM levels.ConclusionSubjects exposed to higher levels of PM in the outdoor air presented greater ocular surface alterations. Thus, ST, SF, and SLG values could be used as convenient indicators of adverse health effects due to exposure to air pollution.

Evidence of air pollution-related ocular signs and altered inflammatory cytokine profile of the ocular surface in Beijing

“…In our study, lower TBUT, TMH and Schirmer I test values were found in the HP group, consistent with the results of previous investigations 9 , 43 . This study found that subjects in highly polluted regions have increased MG expressibility, meibum score and meiboscore, which substantiates the findings of previous epidemiologic studies 44 – 46 . Some studies have indicated that fine particulate air pollution might influence MG function not only by absorbing the lipid of tear film but also by entering MG, leading to lipid deficiency or maldistribution 47 , 48 .…”

The Impact of Particulate Matter (PM2.5) on Human Retinal Development in hESC-Derived Retinal Organoids

“…Several epidemiological investigations have demonstrated that people with short-or long-term exposure to PM2.5 may cause dry eye, keratitis, and conjunctivitis accompanied by ocular symptoms and signs (irritation, redness, itchiness, tearing, burning, etc.) (Chang et al, 2012;Fu et al, 2017;Gutiérrez et al, 2019;Lu et al, 2019;Mo et al, 2019). It demonstrated that the possible mechanisms lie in the proinflammatory response and cytotoxicity through DNA damage and oxidative stress caused by PM2.5 exposure (Chua et al, 2019;Tang et al, 2019).…”

“…Very recently, there has been an upsurge of interest in the detrimental effects of PM2.5 on eyes (Chua et al, 2019;Gutiérrez et al, 2019;Yang et al, 2019). The eye is one of several organs that are constantly and directly exposed to the external environment (Zhu et al, 2019).…”

Urban Aerosol Particulate Matter Promotes Necrosis and Autophagy via Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Cellular Disorders that Are Accompanied by Cell Cycle Arrest in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

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